State gives worker training grants

GREENFIELD — Nearly $7 million in workforce training grants were announced by the state, with nearly $200,00 announced for two Greenfield-based businesses.

Workforce Training funding will go to Greenfield Savings Bank as well as Franklin Community Co-operative, which operates Green Fields Market in Greenfield and McCusker’s Market in Shelburne Falls.

Greenfield Savings Bank, with branches in Greenfield, Turners Falls, Shelburne Falls, South Deerfield, Conway, Amherst and Northampton, was awarded $125,175 to train 73 employees, with the result of five additional jobs being created in leadership, computer systems and management, according to Human Relations Manager Sandra Laude.

Franklin Community Co-Operative will receive $47,600 to train 75 employees in customer service and supervisory skills, with eight additional jobs expected to be created.

“This will help us give excellent service to our customers, because we want to have even better customer service. This grant made it happen.”

The $6,846,496 in grants awarded to provide up to two years of training at 87 Massachusetts companies is expected to create 682 new jobs and train more than 6,300 workers statewide.